Summer is here and what a glorious time of the year it is! Whether it’s lounging at the beach or enjoying an outdoor BBQ with friends, this is probably the best time of year for outdoor fun. Born and raised in California, my love for the sun knows no bounds. But my love for skincare runs even deeper! That means I always make sure to properly prep my skin for any activity I have planned.

Remember, sun damage starts in childhood and is cumulative. It can take up to 20 years for its full effect to […]

I used to think that ‘being alone’ meant being lonely. Maybe that happened because I grew up in a large family, constantly surrounded by relatives. I did not spend time by myself as a child. Instead, I had to discover the joys of solitude once I grew up. Now it is essential to my well-being. Of course I still love spending time with my family and friends, but I have come to crave alone-time. It restores my sense of well-being and helps me in ways I never thought possible.

We’ve all got ‘em: habits. Experts define habits as recurrent (and often unconscious) patterns of behavior acquired through frequent repetition. Some are good, like brushing your teeth each day or visiting our grandmother every Thursday afternoon. Still, if you are willing to be honest with yourself, you probably have at least a few bad habits that you would like to break.

Psychologists generally agree that all habits – the good and the bad – stem from natural human desires. Problems arise, though, when we do not learn good ways of fulfilling those desires. For example, it is […]

Do you look forward to that precious private time, when you can put in your ear buds and hit the pavement for a solitary run? Or walk into the gym alone for a blissfully uninterrupted hour of treadmill, elliptical and weight training?

Well, if you’re among the one in three Americans who strongly prefer to exercise alone, you better listen up because you might want to reconsider your regimen.

New studies definitely show a BIG advantage to group exercise. The first of these experiments was done at Oxford, looking at the school’s internationally renowned rowing team. The crew […]

Frankly, it used to bother me: the supposed health benefits of nuts. For me, they all seemed like fattening, expensive, no-thrill snacks. Combine them with chocolate chips or some dried fruit and, sure, I’m in. But to be eaten all by themselves? Blah. I figured I’d be better off with real candy (for fun) or fresh fruit (for health). Turns out, I dismissed nuts too quickly.

It is true, nuts ARE fattening so nutritionists say you should limit your intake to one hefty handful per day. But the calories in nuts come mostly from “monounsaturated fats.” You […]

Nowadays, you can find an organic version of almost anything. From organic foods to clothing or cosmetics, there seem to be endless ways for us to get our ‘green’ fix.

But what exactly does it mean to be organic? And are these supposedly more natural products really worth the time it takes to find them (and the extra money it usually takes to buy them)? At least when it comes to feminine care products, the hype is 100% legitimate. Organic feminine care products really are all that they’re cracked up to be. They really are A LOT […]

The holiday season is now in full swing, with almost constant hustle and bustle. From hosting elaborate family dinners to trimming the Christmas tree and wrapping all the presents that lay beneath its needles – it may feel as if there aren’t nearly enough hours in any one day to get everything done.

With so much to do and so few days left, this is one of the most terrifying times of the year to even think about catching a cold. So I want to offer a few tricks for preventing winter sniffles, stopping a cold […]

Everyone’s life gets hectic sometimes. Day-to-day responsibilities take their toll and you find your energy level completely drained. In those moments you want nothing more than to close your eyes and drift into blissful repose.

So why, just when you can finally lay your head down on a pillow and pull up the covers, does NOTHING happen? Exhausted and frustrated, you have to wonder how anyone can be so tired, yet unable to sleep.

Insomnia is no joke. It’s frustrating, and it’s bad for your health. Studies out of Columbia and Harvard find that your risk for many […]

With the year coming to an end, it’s finally time to pull out your coziest sweaters, beanies and scarves. For me, late fall always signals the start of the holiday season – and a revival of all things pumpkin! From skincare creams to savory foods, the Queen of Squash will reign in splendor for the next few months as countless pumpkin-based products flood the market!

As with every change of season, autumn can bring some wild weather fluctuations that wreak havoc with your skin. Many of us combat dry, chapped hands, elbows, legs – you name it. […]

Here in L.A. – home of the beautiful, bronzed and trendy – you’ll find a zillion products on health food store and pharmacy shelves promising to boost health or enhance your appearance. Of course, a lot of them are more packaging than substance. But I’d like to recommend one new fad that more than deserves its popularity: coconut oil.

Due to its many uses and benefits, coconut oil has become the talk of the town. Best of all, in a marketplace filled with items that fail to do what they promise, coconut oil delivers more than the […]